Seal Configuration for a Toner Cartridge of an Image Forming Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a photosensitive drum that is supported by the frame; a developing unit that is rotatable around a rotating shaft supported by the frame and includes a developing frame having a toner receiving port and a developing roller; a toner cartridge that has a toner supply port; and a seal member that positioned a circumference of the toner receiving port and is deformable, wherein the seal member has a communication opening, which communicates between the toner receiving port and the toner supply port in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, and the seal member has a first end and a second end, wherein when the developing unit rotates to approach the toner cartridge, the first end of the seal member and the second end of the seal member are configured to be compressed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/869,739 filed Jan. 12, 2018, which continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/293,493 filed Oct. 14, 2016, issued as U.S. Pat.No. 9,885,976 on Feb. 6, 2018, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2015-203510 filed on Oct. 15, 2015, the entiresubject matter of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus that employs anelectrophotographic method.

There is an image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographicmethod and includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit having adeveloping roller, and a toner cartridge that accommodates toner.

As such an image forming apparatus, there is an image forming apparatusin which a supply port of a toner cartridge and a receiving port of adeveloping unit face each other to supply toner contained in the tonercartridge to the developing unit.

In such image forming apparatus, the developing unit is configured toswing with respect to the photosensitive drum.

In such an image forming apparatus, in a state where the amount of tonercontained in the toner cartridge is large, it is difficult to swing thetoner cartridge together with the developing unit. Thus, there is aconfiguration in which the developing unit swings with respect to notonly the photosensitive drum but also the toner cartridge.

There is an image forming apparatus in which a seal member made of anelastic member is disposed at a circumference of a supply port and anabutting state between a toner cartridge and a developing unit ismaintained, thereby preventing toner from being scattered between from asupply port of the toner cartridge and a receiving port of thedeveloping unit.

SUMMARY

When a developing unit swings to approach a toner cartridge, there are apart of which a seal member is compressed as the developing unitapproaches the toner cartridge and a part of which the seal member isdecompressed as the developing unit departs from the toner cartridge.

Therefore, the seal member reliably abuts on the toner cartridge in thecompressed part of the seal member, thereby suppressing toner leakage.However, the seal member is spaced from the toner cartridge to form agap in the decompressed part of the seal member, thereby causing tonerleakage.

This disclosure provides an image forming apparatus that can suppresstoner leakage between the toner cartridge and the developing unit.

An image forming apparatus of this disclosure includes: a frame; aphotosensitive drum that is supported by the frame; a developing unitthat is rotatable around a rotating shaft supported by the frame andincludes a developing frame having a toner receiving port and adeveloping roller; a toner cartridge that has a toner supply port; and aseal member that positioned a circumference of the toner receiving portand is deformable, wherein the seal member has a communication opening,which communicates between the toner receiving port and the toner supplyport in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, andthe seal member has a first end and a second end positioned at a sideopposite to the first end with the communication opening interposedtherebetween. When the developing unit rotates to approach the tonercartridge, the first end of the seal member and the second end of theseal member are configured to be compressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of thisdisclosure will become more apparent from the following detaileddescriptions considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view at a center illustrating an imageforming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view at a center of a drum cartridgeillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the drum cartridge illustrated in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drum cartridge illustrated in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view at a center of a toner cartridgeillustrated in FIG. 1 and illustrates a state where a cylinder portionis positioned at an upright position and a shutter is positioned at anopen position;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view at a center of the toner cartridgeillustrated in FIG. 1 and illustrates a state where the cylinder portionis positioned at a tilt position and the shutter is positioned at aclosed position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the toner cartridge illustrated in FIG. 4B;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the tonercartridge illustrated in FIG. 4B;

FIG. 7A illustrates a process cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 and astate where a developing roller comes in contact with a photosensitivedrum;

FIG. 7B illustrates the process cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 and astate where the developing roller is spaced from the photosensitivedrum;

FIG. 8 illustrates a state where the cylinder portion is positioned at atilt position and the shutter is positioned at a closed position in theprocess cartridge illustrated in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining amounting-and-demounting operation of the toner cartridge with respect tothe drum cartridge;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining amounting-and-demounting operation of the process cartridge with respectto the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view at a center of a drum cartridge in animage forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view at a center of a process cartridge inthe image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view at a center of a drum cartridge in animage forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a toner cartridge in the image forming apparatusaccording to the third embodiment of the invention and is across-sectional view of the toner cartridge corresponding to the tonercartridge illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view at a center of a drum cartridgeaccording to a modification example of the first embodiment; and

FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view at a center of a drum cartridgeaccording to a modification example of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An image forming apparatus 1 will be described below. In the followingdescription, directions will be specified based on directions indicatedby arrows as illustrated in the drawings.

1. Outline of Printer

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is amonochromatic printer employing an electrophotographic method. The imageforming apparatus 1 includes a main body 2 having an opening 9, aprocess cartridge 3, a scanning unit 7, a fixing unit 8, and a readingunit 35.

The main body 2 has an almost box shape. The main body 2 includes afront cover 10, a sheet supply tray 11, and a sheet discharge tray 12.

The opening 9 is positioned at a front end of the main body 2. Theopening 9 is formed to communicate between the inside and outside of themain body 2. The opening 9 allows the process cartridge 3 to passtherethrough.

The front cover 10 is positioned at the front end of the main body 2.The front cover 10 has an almost plate shape extending in an up-downdirection. The front cover 10 is supported by the front end of the mainbody 2 so as to be pivotally swingable around a lower end of the frontcover 10. The front cover 10 is swingable between an open position atwhich the opening 9 is open and a closed position at which the opening 9is closed (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

The sheet supply tray 11 is positioned at a lower end of the main body2. The sheet supply tray 11 is configured to accommodate sheets P ofpaper.

The sheet discharge tray 12 is positioned at a substantially center in afront-rear direction of an upper surface of the main body 2. The sheetdischarge tray 12 is recessed downward form the upper surface of themain body 2 so that the sheets P are placed thereon.

The process cartridge 3 is mountable to and demountable from the mainbody 2. The process cartridge 3 is positioned at a substantiallyvertical center inside the main body 2. The process cartridge 3 ispositioned above the sheet supply tray 11 and below of the sheetdischarge tray 12. The process cartridge 3 includes a drum unit 14 and atoner cartridge 15.

The drum unit 14 includes a photosensitive drum 17, a transfer roller18, a charging roller 19, a charging cleaning roller 20 configured toremove extraneous matters such as a residual toner or sheet dust adheredonto a surface of the charging roller 19, a drum cleaning unit 21configured to collect the extraneous matters adhered to thephotosensitive drum 17 and store them, and a developing unit 24.

The photosensitive drum 17 is positioned at a rear end of the drum unit14. The photosensitive drum 17 has an almost cylindrical shape extendingin a right-left direction.

The transfer roller 18 is positioned below the photosensitive drum 17.The transfer roller 18 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 17.

The charging roller 19 is positioned at a rear upper side of thephotosensitive drum 17. The charging roller 19 is in contact with thephotosensitive drum 17. The charging roller 19 is configured to chargethe surface of the photosensitive drum 17.

The developing unit 24 is positioned in front of the photosensitive drum17. The developing unit 24 includes a developing roller 25, a supplyroller 26, and a layer thickness regulation blade 27.

The developing roller 25 is positioned at a rear end of the developingunit 24. The developing roller 25 is in contact with a front side of acircumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 17. The developingroller 25 is rotatably supported by the developing unit 24. That is, thedeveloping roller 25 and the photosensitive drum 17 are arranged in thefront-rear direction.

The supply roller 26 is positioned below a front of the developingroller 25. The supply roller 26 is in contact with a surface at a frontlower side of the developing roller 25. The supply roller 26 isrotatably supported by the developing unit 24.

The layer thickness regulation blade 27 is positioned at a front upperside of the developing roller 25. A lower end of the layer thicknessregulation blade 27 is in contact with a front surface of the developingroller 25.

The toner cartridge 15 is mountable to and demountable from the drumunit 14. The toner cartridge 15 is positioned in front of the developingunit 24. The toner cartridge 15 can accommodate a toner. Althoughdetails will be described below, the toner cartridge 15 can supply thetoner accommodated therein to the developing unit 24.

The scanning unit 7 is positioned above the process cartridge 3. Thescanning unit 7 can emit a laser beam L based on image data toward thephotosensitive drum 17.

The fixing unit 8 is positioned in the rear of the process cartridge 3.The fixing unit 8 includes a heating roller 32 and a pressing roller 33coming in contact with the heating roller 32.

The reading unit 35 is positioned above the main body 2. The readingunit 35 is positioned above the sheet discharge tray 12 while keeping aninterval. The reading unit 35 is a flat bed image scanner. The readingunit 35 is configured to read image information of an original document.

2. Drum Cartridge

The drum unit 14 includes a frame 40 that supports the photosensitivedrum 17 and the developing unit 24 as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3.

(1) Frame

The frame 40 includes a right sidewall 44R, a left sidewall 44L, a lowerwall 46, a partition wall 47 having a groove 50, and a partition wall 48having a toner communication opening 54, a right notch 55R, and a leftnotch 55L.

The sidewall 44R includes a guide portion 49, a hole 58 into which thephotosensitive drum 17 is inserted, a support portion 59, and a hole 60that receives a protrusion portion 26CR (which will be described below)of the supply roller 26.

Similarly to the sidewall 44R, the sidewall 44L includes the guideportion 49, the hole 58, the support portion 59, a hole 60 that receivesa protrusion portion 26CL (which will be described below) of the supplyroller 26.

The guide portion 49 will be described with respect to the sidewall 44R,and the hole 58, the support portion 59, and the hole 60 will bedescribed with respect to the sidewall 44L.

The sidewall 44R is positioned at a right end of the frame 40. Thesidewall 44R extends in the up-down direction and the front-reardirection. The sidewall 44R has a plate shape.

The guide portion 49 is positioned at a front end of the sidewall 44R.The guide portion 49 is recessed outward in the right-left directionfrom an inner surface in the right-left direction of the sidewall 44R.The guide portion 49 includes a first groove 51 and a second groove 52.

The first groove 51 extends downward and rearward from a front upper endof the sidewall 44R as illustrated in FIG. 2A. As the first groove 51extends downward and rearward, the groove becomes smaller in width. Thefirst groove 51 has an almost triangular shape as seen in side view.

The second groove 52 is continuous from a rear lower end of the firstgroove 51. The second groove 52 extends rearward from the rear lower endof the first groove 51. The second groove 52 includes a locking portion53.

The locking portion 53 is positioned at a substantially center of thesecond groove 52 in the front-rear direction. The locking portion 53protrudes upward from a bottom of the second groove 52. The lockingportion 53 is a plate spring.

The sidewall 44L is positioned at a left end of the frame 40 asillustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3. The sidewall 44L extends in the up-downdirection and the front-rear direction. The sidewall 44L has a plateshape.

The hole 58 is positioned in front of the drum cleaning unit 21 asviewed from the right-left direction. The hole 58 penetrates through thesidewall 44L in the right-left direction. The hole 58 has a circularshape as seen in side view.

The support portion 59 is positioned at a front upper side of the hole58. The support portion 59 extends in the right-left direction. Thesupport portion 59 has a cylindrical shape. An outer end in theright-left direction of the support portion 59 is substantially flushwith an outer end in the right-left direction of the sidewall 44L. Aninner end in the right-left direction of the support portion 59 ispositioned inward in the right-left direction from an inner surface inthe right-left direction of the sidewall 44L.

The hole 60 is positioned in front of the hole 58 and is positioned at afront lower side of the support portion 59. The hole 60 penetratesthrough the sidewall 44L in the right-left direction. The hole 60 has along-hole shape. The hole 60 has an almost arc shape around the supportportion 59.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the lower wall 46 is positioned at thelower end of the frame 40. The lower wall 46 is positioned between thelower end of the sidewall 44R and the lower end of the sidewall 44L. Thelower wall 46 extends in the right-left direction and the front-reardirection. The lower wall 46 has a plate shape. The lower wall 46 isprovided with two springs 61.

Two springs 61 are positioned substantially at a substantially center inthe longitudinal direction of the lower wall 46. Two springs 61 arepositioned in front of the developing unit 24. Two springs 61 are spacedapart from each other with an interval in the right-left direction. Eachof the springs 61 is a coil spring. A base end of the spring 61 is fixedto the lower wall 46. A free end of the spring 61 extends upward.

The partition wall 47 is positioned in the rear of the second groove 52of the sidewall 44R and the sidewall 44L as viewed in the right-leftdirection. The partition wall 47 is positioned between the developingunit 24 and the second groove 52. The partition wall 47 extends rearwardand upward from the substantially center of the lower wall 46 in thefront-rear direction. The partition wall 47 is positioned between thesidewall 44R and the sidewall 44L. The partition wall 47 is curvedupward as it extends rearward. The partition wall 47 has an almost arcshape around the rear end of the second groove 52.

The groove 50 is positioned at a substantially center of the partitionwall 47 in the right-left direction. The groove 50 penetrates throughthe partition wall 47 in the front-rear direction. The groove 50 extendsin the up-down direction. The groove 50 has an almost rectangular shapeas seen in front view. The groove 50 is continuous from the partitionwall 47 and extends to the front end of the lower wall 46.

The partition wall 48 is positioned at a rear upper side of thepartition wall 47. The partition wall 47 extends in the right-leftdirection. The partition wall 48 has an almost semi-cylindrical shape inwhich a front thereof is open. The partition wall 48 is positionedbetween the sidewall 44R and the sidewall 44L. A front lower end of thepartition wall 48 is connected to the upper end of the partition wall47. The partition wall 48 is provided with a lock portion 56.

The lock portion 56 is positioned inside the partition wall 48 in theradial direction. The lock portion 56 extends in the right-leftdirection. The lock portion 56 has an almost semi-cylindrical shape inwhich a front thereof is open. An outer circumferential surface of thelock portion 56 is formed along an inner circumferential surface of thepartition wall 48. The lock portion 56 is movable along the innercircumferential surface of the partition wall 48 between a firstposition (see FIG. 2A) and a second position (see FIG. 7A). In the firstposition, the lock portion 56 is positioned at a rear end inside thepartition wall 48 such that a front side is opened and the tonercommunication opening 54 of the partition wall 48 is closed. In thesecond position (see FIG. 7A), the lock portion 56 is positioned at anupper end inside the partition wall 48 such that a lower side is openedand is engaged with a conveyance tube 94 (which will be described below)of the toner cartridge 15 and the toner communication opening 54 of thepartition wall 48 is opened.

The toner communication opening 54 is positioned at a substantiallycenter of the partition wall 48 in the right-left direction. The tonercommunication opening 54 penetrates through a circumferential surfacebelow the partition wall 48 in the up-down direction. The tonercommunication opening 54 has an almost rectangular shape as seen in aplane view.

The notch 55R is positioned at an upper end of the partition wall 48. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the notch 55R overlaps with the right end of thegroove 50 as seen in the up-down direction. The notch 55R penetratesthrough a front upper end of the partition wall 48 in the up-downdirection. The notch 55R extends, in a substantially straight line,rearward from the front upper end of the partition wall 48.

The notch 55L is positioned at the upper end of the partition wall 48.The notch 55L overlaps with the left end of the groove 50 as seen in theup-down direction. The notch 55L penetrates through the front upper endof the partition wall 48 in the up-down direction. The notch 55Lextends, in a substantially straight line, rearward from the front upperend of the partition wall 48.

Although details will be described below, the toner cartridge 15 ismounted in front of the partition wall 47 in the frame 40. In this way,a portion, which is defined by the partition wall 47, the front of thelower wall 46, and the front of the sidewall 44R and the sidewall 44L,is a toner cartridge mounting portion 57 in the frame 40.

(2) Photosensitive Drum

The photosensitive drum 17 includes a drum body 17A and a drum shaft 17Bas illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3.

The drum body 17A is positioned at an outer circumferential part of thephotosensitive drum 17 in a radial direction of the photosensitive drum17. The drum body 17A extends in the right-left direction. The drum body17A has a cylindrical shape in which both right and left ends areclosed.

The drum shaft 17B is positioned at a center of the photosensitive drum17 in the radial direction of the photosensitive drum 17. The drum shaft17B extends in the right-left direction. The drum shaft 17B has acolumnar shape. A right end of the drum shaft 17B protrudes rightwardbeyond a right end of the drum body 17A as illustrated in FIG. 3. Theright end of the drum shaft 17B is inserted into the hole 58 of thesidewall 44R. The right end of the drum shaft 17B protrudes rightwardbeyond the sidewall 44R. A left end of the drum shaft 17B protrudesleftward beyond a left end of the drum body 17A. The left end of thedrum shaft 17B is inserted into the hole 58 of the sidewall 44L. Theleft end of the drum shaft 17B protrudes leftward beyond the sidewall44L.

(3) Developing Unit

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 4, the developing unit 24 is positionedat a substantially center of the drum unit 14 in the front-reardirection. The developing unit 24 includes a developing frame 62 thatsupports the developing roller 25 and the supply roller 26 describedabove, a first screw 29, a second screw 30, a communication opening 80,and a seal member 63.

(3-1) Developing Frame

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the developing frame 62 includes aright sidewall 65R, a left sidewall 65L, a front wall 66, a lower wall67, an upper wall 68, a compartment wall 70, a right arm 76R, and a leftarm 76L.

The sidewall 65R is positioned at a right end of the developing frame62. The sidewall 65R extends in the up-down direction and the front-reardirection. The sidewall 65R has a plate shape.

The sidewall 65L is positioned at a left end of the developing frame 62.The sidewall 65L extends in the up-down direction and the front-reardirection. The sidewall 65L has a plate shape.

The front wall 66 is positioned at a front end of the developing frame62. The front wall 66 is positioned between a front end of the sidewall65R and a front end of the sidewall 65L. The front wall 66 extends inthe up-down direction and the right-left direction. The front wall 66has a plate shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the lower wall 67 is positioned at a lowerend of the developing frame 62. The lower wall 67 is positioned betweena lower end of the sidewall 65R and a lower end of the sidewall 65L. Thelower wall 67 extends in the front-rear direction and the right-leftdirection. The lower wall 67 has a plate shape. A front end of the lowerwall 67 is connected to a lower end of the front wall 66.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the upper wall 68 is positioned at anupper end of the developing frame 62. The upper wall 68 is positionedbetween an upper end of the sidewall 65R and an upper end of thesidewall 65L. The upper wall 68 extends in the front-rear direction andthe right-left direction. A front end of the upper wall 68 is connectedto an upper end of the front wall 66 as illustrated in FIG. 2A. A rearend of the upper wall 68 supports the layer thickness regulation blade27. The upper wall 68 includes a curved portion 72 having a tonerreceiving port 73.

The curved portion 72 forms the front end of the upper wall 68. Thecurved portion 72 has an arc shape that is slightly recessed downward.The curved portion 72 has a plate shape.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the toner receiving port 73 ispositioned at a substantially center of the curved portion 72 in theright-left direction. The toner receiving port 73 is positioned in frontof the compartment wall 70. The toner receiving port 73 penetratesthrough the curved portion 72 in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the compartment wall 70 is positioned in therear of the front wall 66. The compartment wall 70 is positioned betweenthe sidewall 65R and the sidewall 65L. The compartment wall 70 extendsdownward from a substantially center of the upper wall 68 in thefront-rear direction. The compartment wall 70 has a plate shape. A lowerend of the compartment wall 70 is positioned in front of the supplyroller 26. The lower end of the compartment wall 70 is positioned abovethe lower wall 67 while keeping an interval.

The compartment wall 70 partitions the internal space of the developingframe 62 into a developing portion 31 positioned in the rear of thecompartment wall 70 and a toner accommodating portion 28 positioned infront of the compartment wall 70.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the arm 76R extends rearward andupward from the upper surface of the sidewall 65R. The arm 76R has analmost triangular shape that becomes narrower toward the rear and upperside. The arm 76R has a plate shape. The arm 76R is provided with arotating shaft 77.

The rotating shaft 77 is positioned at a rear upper end of the arm 76R.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the rotating shaft 77 ispositioned on a virtual line V that is a tangent line of thephotosensitive drum 17 and is orthogonal to a segment S passing betweenan axial line of the photosensitive drum 17 and an axial line of thedeveloping roller 25. In addition, the rotating shaft 77 is positionedbetween the axial line of the photosensitive drum 17 and the seal member63 in an extending direction of the segment S. The rotating shaft 77 ispositioned upward from the photosensitive drum 17 and the developingroller 25. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the rotating shaft 77 has acolumnar shape extending in the right-left direction. An outer end inthe right-left direction of the rotating shaft 77 is positioned outwardin the right-left direction from the outer surface in the right-leftdirection of the arm 76R. The outer end in the right-left direction ofthe rotating shaft 77 is inserted into the support portion 59 of thesidewall 44R.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the arm 76L extends rearward and upward fromthe upper surface of the sidewall 65L. The arm 76L has the same shape asthe arm 76R as projecting in the right-left direction. Similarly to thearm 76R, the arm 76L is provided with a rotating shaft 77. The rotatingshaft 77 of the arm 76L is inserted into the support portion 59 of thesidewall 44L.

(3-2) Developing Roller

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the developing roller 25 includes acovering portion 25A and a shaft 25B.

The covering portion 25A is positioned at an outer circumferential partof the developing roller 25 in a radial direction of the developingroller 25. The covering portion 25A extends in the right-left direction.The covering portion 25A has a cylindrical shape.

The shaft 25B is positioned at a center of the developing roller 25 inthe radial direction of the developing roller 25. The shaft 25B extendsin the right-left direction. The shaft 25B has a columnar shape. A rightend of the shaft 25B protrudes rightward beyond a right end of thecovering portion 25A. The right end of the shaft 25B is rotatablysupported by the sidewall 65R. The right end of the shaft 25B protrudesrightward beyond the sidewall 65R. A left end of the shaft 25B protrudesleftward beyond a left end of the covering portion 25A. The left end ofthe shaft 25B is rotatably supported by the sidewall 65L. The left endof the shaft 25B protrudes leftward beyond the sidewall 65L.

(3-3) Supply Roller

The supply roller 26 includes a covering portion 26A, a shaft 26B, aright protrusion portion 26CR, and a left protrusion portion 26CL.

The covering portion 26A is positioned at an outer circumferential partof the supply roller 26 in a radial direction of the supply roller 26.The covering portion 26A extends in the right-left direction. Thecovering portion 26A has a cylindrical shape.

The shaft 26B is positioned at a center of the supply roller 26 in theradial direction of the supply roller 26. The shaft 26B extends in theright-left direction. The shaft 26B has a columnar shape. A right end ofthe shaft 26B protrudes rightward beyond a right end of the coveringportion 26A. The right end of the shaft 26B is rotatably supported bythe sidewall 65R. The right end of the shaft 26B protrudes rightwardbeyond the sidewall 65R. A left end of the shaft 26B protrudes leftwardbeyond a left end of the covering portion 26A. The left end of the shaft26B is rotatably supported by the sidewall 65L. The left end of theshaft 26B protrudes leftward beyond the sidewall 65L.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the protrusion portion 26CR is positioned at aright end of the supply roller 26. The protrusion portion 26CR extendsin the right-left direction. The protrusion portion 26CR has acylindrical shape. The protrusion portion 26CR is fitted into the rightend of the shaft 26B. Then, the protrusion portion 26CR is fitted intothe hole 60 of the sidewall 44R. The protrusion portion 26CR protrudesoutward in the right-left direction beyond the sidewall 44R.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3, the protrusion portion 26CL ispositioned at a left end of the supply roller 26. The protrusion portion26CL extends in the right-left direction. The protrusion portion 26CLhas a cylindrical shape. The protrusion portion 26CL is fitted into theleft end of the shaft 26B. Then, the protrusion portion 26CL is fittedinto the hole 60 of the sidewall 44L. The protrusion portion 26CLprotrudes outward in the right-left direction beyond the sidewall 44L.

(3-4) First Screw and Second Screw

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the first screw 29 is positioned inside thedeveloping portion 31. Specifically, the first screw 29 is positionedabove the supply roller 26 and in the rear of the compartment wall 70. Aright end of the first screw 29 is rotatably supported by the sidewall65R. A left end of the first screw 29 is rotatably supported by thesidewall 65L.

The second screw 30 is positioned inside the toner accommodating portion28. That is, the second screw 30 is positioned in front of thecompartment wall 70. A right end of the second screw 30 is rotatablysupported by the sidewall 65R. A left end of the second screw 30 isrotatably supported by the sidewall 65L.

(3-5) Seal Member

The seal member 63 is positioned at an upper surface of the curvedportion 72. The seal member 63 is urethane foam. In addition,polyethylene foam or a rubber sponge can be substituted for the sealmember 63. The seal member 63 is deformable. The seal member 63 has analmost rectangular shape as seen in plane view. The seal member 63 isbonded to the upper surface of the curved portion 72. The seal member 63has a shape that is curved along the upper surface of the curved portion72. The seal member 63 covers the circumference of the toner receivingport 73 of the developing unit 24 and the circumference of the tonersupply port 97 of the toner cartridge 15 to be described below.

The communication opening 80 is positioned at a substantially center ofthe seal member 63 as seen in plane view. The communication opening 80penetrates through the seal member 63 in the up-down direction. Thecommunication opening 80 has an almost rectangular shape as seen inplane view. The communication opening 80 coincides with the tonerreceiving port 73 of the curved portion 72 as projecting in the up-downdirection.

A front end 63B (second end) of the seal member 63 is positioned at aside opposite to a rear end 63A (first end) of the seal member 63 withthe communication opening 80 interposed therebetween.

(4) Assembly State of Developing Unit with Respect to Drum Cartridge

As described above, the developing unit 24 is supported by the frame 40of the drum cartridge 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3 in such amanner that the rotating shaft 77 of the arm 76R is inserted into thesupport portion 59 of the sidewall 65R, the rotating shaft 77 of the arm76L is inserted into the support portion 59 of the sidewall 65L, theprotrusion portion 26CR is fitted into the hole 60 of the sidewall 44R,and the protrusion portion 26CL is fitted into the hole 60 of thesidewall 44L. Thus, the developing unit 24 is pivotally rotatable aroundthe rotating shaft 77 along the hole 60.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the front lower end of the sidewall65R of the developing unit 24 comes in contact with a rear surface of afree end of the right spring 61. The front lower end of the sidewall 65Lof the developing unit 24 comes in contact with a free end of the leftspring 61. Thereby, the developing unit 24 is always pressed rearwardalong the hole 60 by two springs 61. In other words, the spring 61presses the developing roller 25 toward the photosensitive drum 17.

Thus, the covering portion 25A of the developing roller 25 comes incontact with the photosensitive drum 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the upper surface of the seal member 63 comesin contact with a lower circumferential surface of the partition wall48. The seal member 63 is held between the partition wall 48 and thecurved portion 72 in a state of being compressed in the up-downdirection. That is, the seal member 63 is deformable along a rotationdirection of the developing unit 24.

3. Toner Cartridge

(1) Structure of Toner Cartridge

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 5, the toner cartridge 15 includes atoner accommodating portion 85, a conveyance portion 86, and aninterlocking portion 87.

(1-1) Toner Accommodating Portion

The toner accommodating portion 85 accommodates a toner therein. Thetoner accommodating portion 85 extends in the right-left direction asillustrated in FIGS. 4A and 6. The toner accommodating portion 85 has analmost cylindrical shape in which both right and left ends are closed.The toner accommodating portion 85 includes an agitator 90.

The agitator 90 includes an agitator shaft 90A, a blade 90B, and anagitator gear 91.

The agitator shaft 90A is positioned at a center of the toneraccommodating portion 85 as seen in the right-left direction. Theagitator shaft 90A extends in the right-left direction. The agitatorshaft 90A has a columnar shape. A right end of the agitator shaft 90A isrotatably supported by a right wall of the toner accommodating portion85. The right end of the agitator shaft 90A protrudes rightward beyondthe right end of the toner accommodating portion 85. A left end of theagitator shaft 90A is rotatably supported by a left wall of the toneraccommodating portion 85. The left end of the agitator shaft 90Aprotrudes leftward beyond the left end of the toner accommodatingportion 85.

The blade 90B is positioned within the toner accommodating portion 85.The blade 90B extends outward in a radial direction of the agitator 90from the agitator shaft 90A. The blade 90B comes in contact with aninner surface of the toner accommodating portion 85.

The agitator gear 91 is positioned to left of the toner accommodatingportion 85. The agitator gear 91 is fixed to the left end of theagitator shaft 90A. The agitator gear 91 has gear teeth around theentire circumference. The agitator gear 91 is rotatable with theagitator shaft 90A.

(1-2) Conveyance Portion

The conveyance portion 86 is positioned at a rear upper side of thetoner accommodating portion 85. The conveyance portion 86 includes aconveyance tube 94 having the toner supply port 97, a right couplingtube 95R, a left coupling tube 95L, and an auger screw 96.

The conveyance tube 94 is positioned at a rear upper side of the toneraccommodating portion 85 while keeping an interval. The conveyance tube94 extends in the right-left direction. The conveyance tube 94 has analmost cylindrical shape in which both right and left ends are closed.The dimension of the conveyance tube 94 in the right-left direction isapproximately equal to the dimension of the toner accommodating portion85 in the right-left direction.

The toner supply port 97 is positioned at a substantially center of theconveyance tube 94 in the right-left direction. The toner supply port 97penetrates through a lower circumferential surface of the conveyancetube 94 in the up-down direction. The toner supply port 97 has an almostrectangular shape as seen in plane view.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the coupling tube 95R is positionedbetween a right rear end of the toner accommodating portion 85 and aright front end of the conveyance tube 94. The coupling tube 95R extendsin the front-rear direction.

The coupling tube 95R has a rectangular cylindrical shape. The toneraccommodating portion 85 and the conveyance tube 94 are communicatedwith each other through the coupling tube 95R.

The coupling tube 95L is positioned between a left rear end of the toneraccommodating portion 85 and a left front end of the conveyance tube 94.The coupling tube 95L extends in the front-rear direction. The couplingtube 95L has a rectangular cylindrical shape. The coupling tube 95Lcommunicates between the toner accommodating portion 85 and theconveyance tube 94. The coupling tube 95L includes an idle gear 98.

The idle gear 98 is positioned to the left of the coupling tube 95L. Theidle gear 98 is positioned at the rear of the agitator gear 91. The idlegear 98 is rotatably supported by a left wall of the coupling tube 95L.The idle gear 98 has gear teeth around the entire circumference thereof.The idle gear 98 is engaged with the agitator gear 91.

The auger screw 96 is positioned within the conveyance tube 94. Theauger screw 96 extends in the right-left direction. A right half of theauger screw 96 is a left-handed auger screw. A right end of the augerscrew 96 is rotatably supported by a right wall of the conveyance tube94. A left half of the auger screw 96 is a right-handed auger screw. Aleft end of the auger screw 96 is rotatably supported by a left wall ofthe conveyance tube 94. The auger screw 96 includes a conveyance gear99.

The conveyance gear 99 is positioned to the left of the s conveyancetube 94. The conveyance gear 99 is positioned at the rear of the idlegear 98. The conveyance gear 99 is fixed to the left end of the augerscrew 98. The conveyance tube 99 has gear teeth around the entirecircumference thereof. The conveyance gear 99 is rotatable with theauger screw 96. The conveyance gear 99 is engaged with the agitator gear98.

(1-3) Interlocking Portion

As illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5, the interlocking portion 87 includes acylinder portion 101 and a shutter 102 having a through-hole 108.

The description will be made with respect to the interlocking portion 87based on a state where the cylinder portion 101 is positioned at a tiltposition and the shutter 102 is positioned at a closed position.

The cylinder portion 101 is positioned at a substantially center of thetoner accommodating portion 85 in the right-left direction. The cylinderportion 101 covers a circumferential surface of the toner accommodatingportion 85. The cylinder portion 101 extends in the right-leftdirection. The cylinder portion 101 has a cylindrical shape. Thecylinder portion 101 is relatively rotatable with respect to the toneraccommodating portion 85. A rear end of the cylinder portion 101 ispositioned between the coupling tube 95R and the coupling tube 95L. Thecylinder portion 101 includes a handle 104 and gears 105R and 105L.

The handle 104 is positioned at a front end of the cylinder portion 101.The handle 104 extends frontward from the front end of the cylinderportion 101.

The gear 105R is positioned at a right rear end of the cylinder portion101. The gear 105R is positioned to the left of the coupling tube 95R.The gear 105R is positioned at a rear of the cylinder portion 101 in therange of approximately 45 degrees, as seen in side view. The gear 105Rhas an almost arc shape. The gear 105R has a plate shape. The gear 105Rhas gear teeth at a circumferential surface thereof.

The gear 105L is positioned at a left rear end of the cylinder portion101. The gear 105L is positioned to the right of the coupling tube 95L.The gear 105L has the same shape as the gear 105R as projecting in theright-left direction.

Then, the cylinder portion 101 is movable along the circumferentialsurface of the toner accommodating portion 85 between a tilt position(see FIG. 4B) at which the handle 104 extends frontward and an uprightposition (see FIG. 4A) at which the handle 104 is upright to extendfrontward and upward.

The shutter 102 is positioned at a center of the conveyance tube 94 inthe right-left direction. The shutter 102 covers the circumferentialsurface of the conveyance tube 94. The shutter 102 is positioned at arear of the cylinder portion 101. The shutter 102 extends in theright-left direction. The shutter 102 has a cylindrical shape. Theshutter 102 is relatively rotatable with respect to the conveyance tube94. A front end of the shutter 102 is positioned between the couplingtube 95R and the coupling tube 95L. The shutter 102 includes gears 107Rand 107L.

The gear 107R is positioned at a right front end of the shutter 102. Thegear 107R is positioned to the left of the coupling tube 95R. The gear107R is positioned at a front of the shutter 102 in the range ofapproximately 180 degrees, as seen in side view. The gear 107R has analmost arc shape. The gear 107R has a plate shape. The gear 107R hasgear teeth at a circumferential surface thereof. The gear 107R isengaged with the gear 105R of the cylinder portion 101.

The gear 107L is positioned at a left front end of the shutter 102. Thegear 107L is positioned to the right of the coupling tube 95L. The gear107L has the same shape as the gear 107R as projecting in the right-leftdirection. The gear 107L is engaged with the gear 105L of the cylinderportion 101.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 6, the through-hole 108 is positioned ata front of the shutter 102. The through-hole 108 is positioned betweenthe gear 107R and the gear 107L. The through-hole 108 penetrates througha front circumferential surface of the shutter 102 in the front-reardirection. The through-hole 108 has an almost rectangular shape as seenin plane view.

Then, the shutter 102 is movable between a closed position (see FIG. 4B)at which the toner supply port 97 is closed and an open position (seeFIG. 4A) at which the through-hole 108 coincides with the toner supplyport 97 in the up-down direction and the toner supply port 97 is opened,along the circumferential surface of the conveyance tube 94.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the shutter 102 is positioned in the closedposition when the cylinder portion 101 is positioned in the tiltposition, and is positioned in the open position when the cylinderportion 101 is positioned in the upright position.

(2) Mounting State of Toner Cartridge

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the toner cartridge 15 is positioned in frontof the partition wall 47 in a state of being mounted to the tonercartridge mounting portion 57. In other words, the toner cartridge 15 ispositioned at a side opposite to the photosensitive drum 17 with respectto the developing unit 24 in the arrangement direction of thephotosensitive drum 17 and the developing roller 25. The cylinderportion 101 of the interlocking portion 87 is fitted into the groove 50of the partition wall 47.

At this time, the right end of the agitator shaft 90A is fitted into therear end of the second groove 52 of the sidewall 44R of the drum unit14. The right end of the agitator shaft 90A is positioned in the rear ofthe locking portion 53. The left end of the agitator shaft 90A is fittedinto the rear end (not illustrated) of the second groove 52 of thesidewall 44L of the drum unit 14. The left end of the agitator shaft 90Ais positioned in the rear of the locking portion 53. Thus, the lockingportion 53 regulates movement of toner cartridge 15 toward the frontwith respect to the guide portion 49.

In addition, the conveyance portion 86 protrudes rearward from thepartition wall 47 at an upper side of the partition wall 47. Thus, theconveyance tube 94 of the conveyance portion 86 is received in thepartition wall 48 of the frame 40. That is, the partition wall 48 ispositioned between the toner cartridge 15 and the seal member 63.

The cylinder portion 101 is positioned at the upright position, and theshutter 102 is positioned at the open position.

At this time, when the shutter 102 is positioned at the open position,the gears 107R and 107L are positioned at a lower side of the shutter102.

Then, the gears 107R and 107L of the shutter 102 abuts on the lockportion 56 of the partition wall 48, and the lock portion 56 ispositioned at a second position.

In this way, the toner supply port 97, the through-hole 108 of theshutter 102, the toner communication opening 54 of the partition wall48, the communication opening 80 of the seal member 63, and the tonerreceiving port 73 of the developing unit 24 coincide with each other inthe up-down direction. That is, the toner supply port 97 faces the tonerreceiving port 73 from the above in the state where the toner cartridge15 is mounted to the toner cartridge mounting portion 57. The sealmember 63 is positioned between the toner supply port 97 and the tonerreceiving port 73. The toner communication opening 54 of the partitionwall 48 allows the toner supply port 97 and the toner receiving port 73to communicate with each other.

The demounting of the toner cartridge 15 from the toner cartridgemounting portion 57 is regulated by the lock portion 56 and the lockingportion 53.

4. Details of Main Body

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the main body 2 includes a right sidewall 170having a receiving groove 171, a left sidewall (not illustrated) havingthe receiving groove 171, and two separation members 172.

The sidewall 170 is positioned at the right end of the main body 2. Thesidewall 170 extends in the up-down direction and the front-reardirection. The sidewall 170 has a plate shape.

The receiving groove 171 is recessed outward in the right-left directionfrom an inner surface in the right-left direction of the sidewall 170.The receiving groove 171 extends rearward and downward from the opening9.

The sidewall (not shown) is positioned at the left end of the main body2. The sidewall (not shown) has the receiving groove 171 in the innersurface in the right-left direction thereof, similarly to the sidewall170.

The receiving groove 171 of the sidewall 170 and the sidewall (notshown) receives the drum shaft 17B of the photosensitive drum 17 of theprocess cartridge 3.

As a result, the main body 2 supports the process cartridge 3.

Two separation members 172 are positioned in front of the rear lower endof the receiving groove 171 as viewed in the right-left direction. Twoseparation members 172 are spaced apart from each other in theright-left direction with an interval, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Theseparation member 172 extends in the up-down direction as illustrated inFIGS. 2B and 10. The separation member 172 has an almost rectangularcolumn shape. The separation member 172 is pivotally rotatable around alower end of the separation member 172. An upper end of the rightseparation member 172 faces a front end of the protrusion portion 26CLof the supply roller 26, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated inFIGS. 2B and 3, an upper end of the left separation member 172 faces afront end of the protrusion portion 26CR. The separation member 172 isconfigured to separate the developing roller 25 coming in contact withthe photosensitive drum 17 from the photosensitive drum 17 by pressingthe protrusion portion 26CR and the protrusion portion 26CL.

5. Mounting-and-demounting Operations of Toner Cartridge and ProcessCartridge

The toner cartridge 15 is mountable to and demountable from the drumunit 14 even in either a state where the drum unit 14 is mounted to themain body 2 or a state where the drum unit 14 is demounted from the mainbody 2.

In the following description, mounting-and-demounting operations of thetoner cartridge 15 in a state where the drum unit 14 is mounted will bedescribed.

(1) Demounting Operation of Toner Cartridge

When demounting the toner cartridge 15 from the drum unit 14, a workermoves the front cover 10 of the main body 2 to be positioned at the openposition as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Subsequently, as illustrated FIG. 8, the worker grips the handle 104 andmoves the cylinder portion 101 to be positioned at the tilt position.

Then, the gears 107R and 107L of the shutter 102 abut on the lockportion 56 of the partition wall 48, and the shutter 102 and the lockportion 56 rotate together in a counterclockwise direction as seen inleft side view.

Thus, the shutter 102 is positioned at the closed position, and the lockportion 56 is positioned at the first position.

Then, the worker pulls frontward and upward the toner cartridge 15 fromthe drum unit 14 as illustrated in FIG. 9.

As a result, the toner cartridge 15 is demounted from the drum unit 14.

(2) Mounting Operation of Toner Cartridge

In order to mount the toner cartridge 15 to the drum unit 14, the frontcover 10 is moved to be positioned at the open position.

Then, the worker allows the agitator shaft 90A to move along the firstgroove 51 and the second groove 52 of the guide portion 49, therebymounting the toner cartridge 15 to the toner cartridge mounting portion57, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

At this time, the agitator shaft 90A rides over the locking portion 53and is positioned in the rear of the locking portion 53.

In addition, the conveyance portion 86 is disposed inside the partitionwall 48.

Then, the worker grips the handle 104 and moves the cylinder portion 101from the tilt position to the upright position as illustrated in FIG.7A.

Then, the gears 107R and 107L of the shutter 102 abut on the lockportion 56 of the partition wall 48, and the shutter 102 and the lockportion 56 rotate together in a clockwise direction as seen in left sideview.

Thus, the shutter 102 is positioned at the closed position, and the lockportion 56 is positioned at the first position.

Then, the worker allows the front cover 10 to be positioned at theclosed position as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In this way, the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the drum unit 14.

6. Mounting-and-demounting Operations of Process Cartridge

(1) Demounting Operation of Process Cartridge

Upon demounting the process cartridge 3 from the main body 2, the workerallows the front cover 10 of the main body 2 to be positioned at theopen position as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Then, the worker pulls out frontward and upward the process cartridge 3from the main body 2.

In this way, the process cartridge 3 moves along the receiving groove171, and the process cartridge 3 is demounted from the main body 2.

(2) Mounting Operation of Process Cartridge Upon mounting the processcartridge 3 to the main body 2, the worker inserts the process cartridge3 into the main body 2 after the front cover 10 is positioned at theopen position.

At this time, the drum shaft 17B of the photosensitive drum 17 of theprocess cartridge 3 moves along the receiving groove 171, and theprocess cartridge is mounted.

Then, the front cover 10 is moved to be positioned at the closedposition.

In this way, the process cartridge 3 is mounted to the main body 2.

7. Image Forming Operation

As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the image forming apparatus 1 starts animage forming operation, the charging roller 19 uniformly charges thesurface of the photosensitive drum 17. The scanning unit 7 irradiateswith a laser beam L and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum17. Thus, an electrostatic latent image based on image data is formedand carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 17.

In the toner cartridge 15, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7A, theagitator 90 agitates toner contained in the toner accommodating portion85, and the toner is conveyed to the conveyance tube 94 through thecoupling tube 95R and the coupling tube 95L.

Subsequently, the auger screw 96 rotates together due to a driving forceinput to the conveyance gear 99, and conveys the toner contained in theconveyance tube 94 toward the center of the conveyance tube 94 in theright-left direction.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the toner is supplied to the toneraccommodating portion 28 through the toner supply port 97, thethrough-hole 108 of the shutter 102, the toner communication opening 54of the partition wall 48, the communication opening 80 of the sealmember 63, and the toner receiving port 73.

Next, the second screw 30 conveys the toner contained in the toneraccommodating portion 28 in the right-left direction. The tonercontained in the toner accommodating portion 28 passes through theopenings provided at both ends of the compartment wall 70 in theright-left direction, thereby being supplied to the developing portion31.

The first screw 29 conveys the toner contained in the developing portion31 in the right-left direction. The toner contained in the developingportion 31 is supplied to the supply roller 26.

Then, the supply roller 26 supplies the toner contained in thedeveloping portion 31 to the developing roller 25. At this time, thetoner is positively charged by friction between the developing roller 25and the supply roller 26, and is carried on the developing roller 25.The layer thickness regulation blade 27 regulates a layer thickness ofthe toner carried on the developing roller 25 with a certain thickness.

Then, the toner carried on the developing roller 25 is supplied to theelectrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 17.Thus, a toner image is carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum17.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sheets P are supplied one by one betweenthe photosensitive drum 17 and the transfer roller 18 from the sheetsupply tray 11 at a predetermined timing. The toner image on the surfaceof the photosensitive drum 17 is transferred to the sheet P while thesheet P passes between the photosensitive drum 17 and the transferroller 18.

Subsequently, the sheet P is applied with heat and pressure whilepassing between the heating roller 32 and the pressing roller 33.Thereby, the toner image on the sheet P is thermally fixed to the sheetP.

The sheet P is then loaded in the sheet discharge tray 12.

In the image forming operation described above, the developing unit 24moves with respect to the photosensitive drum 17 due to the rotation ofthe photosensitive drum 17 and the developing roller 25. Specifically,the developing unit 24 pivotally rotates around the rotating shaft 77along the hole 60.

In this way, when the developing unit 24 rotates in the counterclockwisedirection as seen in left side view, that is, rotates to approach thetoner cartridge 15, the seal member 63 is compressed between the curvedportion 72 and the partition wall 48.

Specifically, a part of the curved portion 72 in the rear of the tonerreceiving port 73 approaches the rear outer circumferential surface ofthe partition wall 48 in the rear of the toner communication opening 54,and thus the rear end 63A of the seal member 63 is compressed. Inaddition, a part of the curved portion 72 in front of the tonerreceiving port 73 approaches the front outer circumferential surface ofthe partition wall 48 in front of the toner communication opening 54,and thus the front end 63B of the seal member 63 is compressed.

8. Contact/Separation Operation Between Photosensitive Drum andDeveloping Roller

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the separation member 172 rotates in theclockwise direction around the lower end as seen in left side view,during a cleaning operation or a warm-up operation, for example.

Consequently, the separation member 172 presses frontward the protrusionportion 26CR and the protrusion portion 26CL of the supply roller 26.Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the developing unit 24 pivotallyrotates around the rotating shaft 77 in the counterclockwise directionalong the hole 60, against the biasing force of the spring 61. Thus, thedeveloping unit 24 moves between a contact position, at which thedeveloping roller 25 comes in contact with the photosensitive drum 17,and a separation position, at which the developing roller 25 isseparated from the photosensitive drum 17.

Specifically, a part of the curved portion 72 in the rear of the tonerreceiving port 73 approaches the rear outer circumferential surface ofthe partition wall 48 in the rear of the toner communication opening 54,and thus the rear end 63A of the seal member 63 is compressed. Inaddition, a part of the curved portion 72 in front of the tonerreceiving port 73 approaches the front outer circumferential surface ofthe partition wall 48 in front of the toner communication opening 54,and thus the front end 63B of the seal member 63 is compressed.

9. Operational Advantages

-   -   (1) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated        in FIG. 7A, the seal member 63 is disposed to cover the        circumference of the toner receiving port 73 of the developing        unit 24 and the circumference of the toner supply port 97 of the        toner cartridge 15, resulting in suppressing toner leakage.

Then, when the developing unit 24 rotates to approach the tonercartridge 15 as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the rear end 63A and the frontend 63B of the seal member 63 are compressed.

Thus, when the developing unit 24 rotates to approach the tonercartridge 15, the seal member 63 can be reliably compressed between thecircumference of the toner receiving port 73 and the circumference ofthe toner supply port 97.

As a result, it is possible to suppress occurrence in a gap between theseal member 63 and the circumference of the toner supply port 97 andoccurrence in a gap between the seal member 63 and the circumference ofthe toner receiving port 73, and thus it is possible to suppress tonerleakage between the toner cartridge 15 and the developing unit 24.

(2) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIG.2A, the rotating shaft 77 is positioned on a virtual line V that is atangent line of the photosensitive drum 17 and is orthogonal to asegment S passing between an axial line of the photosensitive drum 17and an axial line of the developing roller 25.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the developing unit 24rotates, the developing roller 25 can be separated from thephotosensitive drum 17 along a tangent line of a circle that is centeredaround the rotating shaft 77.

Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the generation of frictionalforce between the photosensitive drum 17 and the developing roller 25 atthe time of contact/separation of the developing roller 25 with and fromthe photosensitive drum 17.

As a result, it is possible to stably rotate the developing unit 24.

(3) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIG.2A, since the rotating shaft 77 is positioned between the seal member 63and the axial line of the photosensitive drum 17 in the extendingdirection of the segment S, the developing unit 24 can pivotally berotated with a certainty between the photosensitive drum 17 and thetoner cartridge 15 around the rotating shaft 77, as illustrated in FIG.7B.

(4) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIGS.2B and 3, the hole 60 of the frame 40 receives the protrusion portion26CR and the protrusion portion 26CL of the supply roller 26 whichprotrude in the axial direction of the developing unit 24, and thus thedeveloping unit 24 can be stably supported by the frame 40.

(5) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIGS.2B and 7B, the developing roller 25 is separated from the photosensitivedrum 17 by the separation member 172, and thus developing unit 24rotates to approach the toner cartridge 15.

Thus, since the seal member 63 is compressed between the toner receivingport 73 and the toner supply port 97, it is possible to suppress tonerleakage between the toner cartridge 15 and the developing unit 24.

(6) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIGS.3 and 7A, the body is pressed by the spring 61, and thus the developingroller 25 can stably come in contact with the photosensitive drum 17.

(7) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIGS.7A and 7B, the seal member 63 can be easily deformed according to therotation of the developing unit 24.

(8) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIG.7B, when the developing unit 24 rotates to approach the toner cartridge15, the seal member 63 can be compressed between the developing unit 24and the partition wall 48.

Therefore, when the seal member 63 is compressed by the rotation of thedeveloping unit 24, it is possible to suppress a force from beingapplied to the toner cartridge 15.

That is, when the developing unit 24 rotates, the movement of the tonercartridge 15 can be suppressed by the partition wall 48.

In addition, the toner can be reliably supplied to the toner receivingport 73 from the toner supply port 97 through the toner communicationopening 54 of the partition wall 48 communication opening 54.

(9) According to the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIG.7B, the developing unit 24 rotates to approach the toner cartridge 15,and thus the toner receiving port 73 can approach the toner supply port97 such that the toner receiving port 73 is directed upward.

Therefore, the toner can be reliably supplied to the toner receivingport 73 from the toner supply port 97.

(10) According to the image forming apparatus 1, since the conveyanceportion 86 is disposed above the seal member 63, the toner contained inthe conveyance portion 86 can be supplied to the developing frame 62 byits own weight. Accordingly, the toner can be easily supplied to thedeveloping frame 62 from the conveyance portion 86.

Furthermore, since a part of the toner accommodating portion 85 isdisposed below the seal member 63, it is difficult to compress the sealmember 63 due to own weight of the toner accommodating portion 85 whenthe toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the frame 40. Therefore, thedeveloping unit 24 can stably rotate.

10. Second Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B, an image forming apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the invention will be described. Inthe second embodiment, the same members as in the first embodiment willbe designated by the same reference numerals, and the descriptionthereof will be not presented.

In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 7A, the frame 40includes the partition wall 48 that receives the conveyance tube 94 ofthe conveyance portion 86 of the toner cartridge 15.

In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, a frame 40 may include acontact wall 200 instead of the partition wall 48 in the secondembodiment.

The contact wall 200 is positioned at a rear upper side of a partitionwall 47 while keeping an interval. The contact wall 200 extends in theright-left direction. The contact wall 200 has a plate shape. Thecontact wall 200 is positioned between a sidewall 44R and a sidewall44L. A rear end of the contact wall 200 is curved toward a rear end 63Aof a seal member 63. The rear end of the contact wall 200 is curvedalong an outer circumferential surface of the conveyance tube 94 of theconveyance portion 86.

In addition, an upper end of a front end 63B of the seal member 63 isinclined downward toward the front.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, when the toner cartridge 15 is mountedto a toner cartridge mounting portion 57, the conveyance tube 94 of theconveyance portion 86 is received between the rear end of the contactwall 200 and the seal member 63 along the inclination of the upper endof the seal member 63. That is, a lower surface of the seal member 63comes in contact with a curved portion 72 of the developing unit 24, andan upper surface of the seal member 63 comes in contact with theconveyance tube 94 of the toner cartridge 15.

In this way, the seal member 63 is held in a state of being compressedbetween the conveyance tube 94 of the toner cartridge 15 and the curvedportion 72 of the developing unit 24 in the up-down direction.

The seal member 63 is held in the state of being compressed, and thusThe conveyance tube 94 is pressed toward the contact wall 200. Thus, theconveyance tube 94 comes in contact with the contact wall 200.

As described above, when the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the tonercartridge mounting portion 57, the seal member 63 is compressed.

The toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the toner cartridge mountingportion 57, and thus the seal member 63 is compressed in a directionorthogonal substantially to the mounting direction of the tonercartridge 15.

In other words, the contact wall 200 is positioned at a side opposite tothe seal member 63 with respect to the toner cartridge 15 in a rotationdirection of the developing unit 24.

Then, when the developing unit 24 rotates in a counterclockwisedirection as seen in left side view, that is, rotates to approach thetoner cartridge 15, the seal member 63 is compressed between the curvedportion 72 and the conveyance tube 94.

Specifically, a part of the curved portion 72 in the rear of the tonerreceiving port 73 approaches the rear outer circumferential surface ofthe conveyance tube 94 in the rear of the toner supply port 97, and thusthe rear end 63A of the seal member 63 is compressed. In addition, apart of the curved portion 72 in front of the toner receiving port 73approaches the front outer circumferential surface of the conveyancetube 94 in front of the toner communication opening 54, and thus thefront end 63B of the seal member 63 is compressed.

According to the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, thedeveloping unit 24 rotates to approach the toner cartridge 15, and thusthe seal member 63 is compressed; and a moving force is also applied tothe toner cartridge 15 with the rotation of the developing unit 24, butmovement of the toner cartridge 15 can be regulated by the contact wall200.

According to the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, when thetoner cartridge 15 is simply mounted to the frame 40, the seal member 63is compressed.

Therefore, it is possible to more reliably suppress occurrence in a gapbetween the seal member 63 and the toner supply port 97 and occurrencein a gap between the seal member 63 and the toner receiving port 73.

According to the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, sincethe seal member 63 presses the conveyance tube 94 of the toner cartridge15 in the direction orthogonal to the mounting-and-demounting directionof the toner cartridge 15 in the state where the toner cartridge 15 ismounted to the frame 40, it is possible to suppress the demounting ofthe toner cartridge 15 from the frame 40.

The second embodiment may also have the same operational advantages asin the first embodiment described above.

11. Third Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, an image forming apparatus accordingto a third embodiment of the invention will be described. In the thirdembodiment, the same members as in the first and second embodiments willbe designated by the same reference numerals, and the descriptionthereof will be not presented.

In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 7A, the frame 40includes the partition wall 48 that receives the conveyance tube 94 ofthe conveyance portion 86 of the toner cartridge 15.

In the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the frame40 includes the contact wall 200, and the conveyance tube 94 of theconveyance portion 86 is received by the contact wall 200 and the sealmember 63.

In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 12, a sidewall 44R of the frame 40includes a guide groove 210 in the third embodiment. In addition, thesidewall 44L of the frame 40 includes a guide groove 210, similarly tothe sidewall 44R.

The guide groove 210 is positioned at an upper end of the sidewall 44R.The guide groove 210 is recessed outward in the right-left directionfrom an inner surface in the right-left direction of the sidewall 44R.The guide groove 210 continuous to an upper end of a first groove 51.The guide groove 210 extends rearward from the upper end of the firstgroove 51. A rear end of the guide groove 210 is positioned above a sealmember 63.

In third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 13, a right end of an augerscrew 96 protrudes rightward beyond a right wall of a coupling tube 95Rin a toner cartridge 15. A left end of a conveyance portion 86 protrudesleftward beyond a left wall of a coupling tube 95L.

Then, the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the toner cartridge mountingportion 57 such that the right end of the auger screw 96 matches withthe guide groove 210 of the sidewall 44R and the left end of the augerscrew 96 matches with the guide groove 210 of the sidewall 44L.

Thus, the right end of the auger screw 96 is fitted into a rear end ofthe guide groove 210 of the sidewall 44R. The left end of the augerscrew 96 is fitted into a rear end of the guide groove 210 of thesidewall 44L.

Then, when a developing unit 24 rotates in a counterclockwise directionas seen in left side view, both right and left ends of the auger screw96 abut on an upper surface of a front end of the guide groove 210.

In this way, movement of the toner cartridge 15 is regulated by theguide groove 210. That is, an upper wall of the rear end of the guidegroove 210 is configured as an example of a contact wall.

The third embodiment may also have the same operational advantages as inthe first embodiment described above.

12. Modification Example of First Embodiment

An image forming apparatus according to a modification example of thefirst embodiment of the invention will be described below with referenceto FIG. 14A.

In the first embodiment described above, the developing unit 24 includesthe seal member 63, but may includes a seal member 220 instead of theseal member 63, the seal member having a dimension longer than the sealmember 63 in the front-rear direction.

The seal member 220 is positioned on an upper surface of a curvedportion 72. A rear end of the seal member 220 protrudes rearward from arear end of the curved portion 72.

In such a case, when a developing unit 24 rotates in a counterclockwisedirection as seen in left side view, that is, rotates to approach atoner cartridge 15, the rear end of the seal member 220 is notcompressed, and only a part coming in contact with the curved portion 72is compressed.

Specifically, a part of the curved portion 72 in the rear of the tonerreceiving port 73 approaches the rear outer circumferential surface ofthe partition wall 48 in the rear of the toner communication opening 54,and thus a rear end 220A (first end) coming in contact with the rear endof the curved portion 72 in the seal member 220 is compressed. Inaddition, a part of the curved portion 72 in front of the tonerreceiving port 73 approaches the front outer circumferential surface ofthe partition wall 48 in front of the toner communication opening 54,and thus the a rear end 220B (second end) coming in contact with thefront end of the curved portion 72 in the seal member 220 is compressed.

The modification example of the first embodiment may also have the sameoperational advantages as in the first embodiment described above.

13. Modification Example of Second Embodiment

An image forming apparatus according to a modification example of thesecond embodiment of the invention will be described below withreference to FIG. 14A.

In the second embodiment, the developing unit 24 includes the sealmember 63, but may include the seal member 220 according to themodification example of the first embodiment described above, instead ofthe seal member 63.

In this case, the seal member 220 is compressed by a conveyance tube 94and a curved portion 72.

The modification example of the second embodiment may also have the sameoperational advantages as in the second embodiment described above.

14. Modification Example

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Forexample, the rotating shaft 77 may be supported by the sidewall 44R andthe sidewall 44L through a bearing.

In addition, the rotating shaft 77 may be formed integrally with the arm76R and the arm 76L.

The arm 76R and the arm 76L include the rotating shaft 77 in theembodiments described above, but the sidewall 44R and the sidewall 44Lmay be configured to include the rotating shaft 77. In this case, thearm 76R and the arm 76L include the support portion 59, and the rotatingshaft 77 of the sidewall 44R and the sidewall 44L is inserted into thesupport portion 59.

In addition, the rotating shaft 77 may be formed integrally with thesidewall 44R and the sidewall 44L.

The drum shaft 17B is supported by the sidewall 44L and the sidewall 44Rin the embodiments described above, but may be supported by the sidewall44L and the sidewall 44R through the bearing.

In addition, the number of springs 61 is two, but may be one or at leastthree without being limited thereto.

Furthermore, the number of separation members 172 is two, but may be onewithout being limited thereto.

The hole 60 has substantially the arc shape, in which the supportportion 59 is centered, in the embodiments described above, but may havesubstantially a circular shape having a diameter larger than that of theprotrusion portion 26CR and the protrusion portion 26CL.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process cartridge comprising: a drum cartridgeincluding: a photosensitive drum; a frame; a developing roller; adeveloping frame having a toner receiving port, the developing framebeing movable with respect to the frame; and a seal member that ispositioned at a circumference of the toner receiving port; and a tonercartridge having a toner supply port, wherein the seal member ispositioned between the developing frame and the toner cartridge in astate where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, and wherein theframe includes a partition wall that is positioned between the sealmember and the toner cartridge in a state where the toner cartridge ismounted to the frame.
 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1,wherein the partition wall has a toner communication opening tocommunicate between the toner receiving port and the toner supply port.3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the seal memberhas a communication opening, which communicates between the tonerreceiving port and the toner supply port in a state where the tonercartridge is mounted to the frame.
 4. The process cartridge according toclaim 3, wherein the partition wall has a toner communication opening tocommunicate between the toner supply port and the communication opening.5. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developingframe is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first directionwith respect to the frame.
 6. The process cartridge according to claim5, wherein the developing frame includes a rotating shaft extending inthe first direction, the rotating shaft being positioned above thephotosensitive drum and the developing roller.
 7. The process cartridgeaccording to claim 1, wherein the developing roller is rotatable about afirst axis extending in a first direction, and wherein the seal memberis deformable along a second direction orthogonal to the first directionand a mounting and demounting direction of the toner cartridge withrespect to the frame.
 8. The process cartridge according to claim 1,wherein the toner cartridge is configured to compress the seal member ina state where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame.
 9. Theprocess cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the developing roller isrotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, wherein theseal member has a first end and a second end positioned opposite to thefirst end with respect to the communication opening in the firstdirection, and wherein the first end of the seal member and the secondend of the seal member are configured to be compressed when thedeveloping frame moves to approach the toner cartridge.
 10. The processcartridge according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a contactwall which comes in contact with the toner cartridge in a state wherethe toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, and wherein the contactwall is positioned above the seal member and the toner cartridge in astate where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame.
 11. The processcartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a spring beingconfigured to press the developing roller toward the photosensitivedrum.